Glenlea Park Poll Merinos

At Glenlea Park, we take pride in leading Australian sheep breeding with elite genetics and high-performance livestock. With a strong heritage and a forward-thinking approach, we set industry benchmarks for quality, productivity, and profitability.

Our breeding programs are dedicated to producing sheep with exceptional wool quality, superior meat yield, and high fertility. Glenlea Park continues to uphold tradition while embracing the latest in genetic innovation to support the success of Australian farmers.

Who are we?

The new owners of Glenlea Park Merinos

The Glenlea Park Poll Merino stud has new owners, the Murdoch family, who have decades of experience running the North Cowie stud in Warooka. They saw the acquisition as an opportunity to further their passion for Merino breeding and relocated the stud to Keith, South Australia.

Having previously used Glenlea Park sires with success, they respect its genetics and aim to preserve its legacy while refining its high-performance sheep known for rich, lustrous wool and strong adaptability.

Their first on-property sale is planned for August 2025, featuring around 170 rams, and they will continue hosting a Yorke Peninsula sale for their long-standing clients. Peter Wallis, the previous owner, will remain in an advisory role for a year to support a smooth transition.

The History of Glenlea Park

Glenlea Park Stud was founded in 1964 by the late Glen Wallis. His son, Peter Wallis, joined the farm in 1991, bringing a new era of growth and innovation. The stud was initially built on Collinsville bloodlines, renowned for their heavy-cutting wool and strong carcase attributes. In the mid-1990s, Bill Walker of Classing’s Ltd was brought on as a stud classer, ushering in a shift towards refining the sheep’s structure and wool quality without compromising their meat-producing traits.

Embracing technology early, Glenlea Park incorporated Embryo Transfer in the 1990s, replicating top-performing ewes to accelerate genetic progress. Artificial breeding further enhanced the stud’s offering by introducing superior genetics from leading sires across Australia. This commitment to excellence helped Glenlea Park establish itself as a premier supplier of elite Merinos, expanding its client base beyond the Mallee to South Australia and interstate.

Peter took full control of Glenlea Park in 1998, continuing to integrate top genetics from Charinga, Wallaloo Park, and Leahcim studs. Under his leadership, the stud became a consistent performer at major industry sales, including the Classings Classic, Adelaide Ram Sale, and Hamilton Sheepvention. Notable achievements include the sale of “Olympic” for $39,000 in 2008 (the highest-priced ram in Australia that year) and a record-breaking $51,000 sale in 2013.

Glenlea Park’s reputation for producing elite rams saw a steady increase in commercial sales, growing from 34 rams sold at an average of $482 in 2002 to 220 rams achieving a state-record average of $4,285 two decades later. Stud sires have also been in high demand, with sales exceeding $10,000 for over 50 rams. The stud has retained some of its finest sires, including Glenlea Park 150881 and Glenlea Park 180030, whose genetics continue to shape the industry.

Among Glenlea Park’s most remarkable achievements was the sale of “Smithy” (180173) for $100,000 at the 2019 Adelaide Ram Sale—the highest price paid for a ram at the event in 30 years. Other standout rams include GP 150170, which sold for $33,000 in 2016, and “Big Ben” (200992), which reached $56,000 in 2021.

Beyond sales, Glenlea Park’s influence on the industry is undeniable. Many of Australia’s top sires have Glenlea Park genetics in their lineage, a fact underscored by the ACM Media Merino Stud Rankings in 2023, where Glenlea Park was ranked the No. 1 Merino stud in Australia.